Grading machine



Aug. 30, 1932.

W,. C.. STEWART GRADING MACHINE Filed June 1s,' 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllllllllllll ll|| I g- 0, I w. c. STEWART 37 57. I

GRADING MACHINE Filed June 18, 1919 2 Sheets'shee'c v 2 [5 leather blanks Patented Aug. 30, 1932 f UN T isTATEs-l JERSEY V GRADING Application filed .Tune 18,

. This inventionrelates particularly to grad ing. machines, although not. limited to use with such machines, and ishere1n1llustrated, as embodied in a macliinefdesigned to split In the manufacture ofboots and shoes it isdesirablethat certain blanks, such for ex:

ample as sole blanks, should be split or skived to a uniform thickness throughout the r '1 whole extent or throughout some selected 10.-

cality, the thickness of the finished blank beingpreferably that of the thinnest spot in said locality. It is also desirable that the finished blanks should be marked and sorted,

' in accordance With their thickness. The term grading,in the boot and shoe art, iseused generically to cover theseand similar operations such as visually indicating. the thickness of a blank by means of a pointer mov able over a scale. I

A- type of grading machine which has. gone into quite extensive use is shown in British Patent No. 17,808 of 1909. In this machine. the blanks are graded (in this case split .and marked) auto 'natically in accordance .Wltll thethickness of the thinnest spot inthe edge of the forepart of each blank. The machine comprises the grading mechanism referred ,toabove, :Eeeler mechanism and mechanism responsive'to the-determinations of the feeler mechanism for adjusting or setting the grading= mechanism. Hitherto in machines of this general type having mechanismfor operating. upon blanks to change some characteristic thereof, and adjusting or setting mechanism for the operating mechanism'adapted to .be actuated by the blanks one by one asthey approach the operating mechanism, a preceding blankmust have been completely operated upon before a succeeding blank could actuate the adjusting mechanism.

According to one feature of the present in.- vention the operating mechanism and the mechanism for adjusting it are so constructed and arranged as to permit the adjusting mechanism to be actuated by'a succeeding blank While the adjustment of the operating mechanism for a preceding blank is being maintained. In the illustrated .machine in which the mechanism for changing a charwxLLrAM c. s'rnwAn-non swAMPsco'r'r, 'mnssaonusnnrs, ss- GNOR- '20 Human snonl MACHINERY CORPORATION? or rnrnnsomnnwunnsnir; n conrqnnr on or NEVJ 1919. Serial 110,305,1 0.

at riei 'of. .a a bank 1 i a. Sp it ing m hr.

n nmhe adjustm n or e ing th sp itnsgm ch n sm. is ma ntai e Whil a $1 ee ing blank operat ng. t e i i s ngv or setting mechanism, saidlast-named mechh an sm 1n the illustrated construction, .COlIl-r,

p s ng two u stan ally dup cate interconnected mechanisms which operate alter-J combinations. of parts, will described as embod ed lIl an 1 {illustrative machine and nntedout in the appendediclaims,

E g. zisa ide vation Of a ach e in R e r ng nowt the accqmpa y g d wwhi h he ,p es nt nve tion is em ied;

s ttingm 'chan sms, nd

Figs qis-a perspectiv fthQ Plu l yfif,

frEig- .1 'sa p rspe ve. (par y. in ec ion and partly in elevat on showing the twopairs of tepp d wedgesl l; th mea f r. d-

justingthe.upper. members .ofthe pairs.

. Ylior conv ni nc t i ve on s en,

ill strated as embo ied in. a m ch :W h.

is similar inmany respects to that of British Patent N0;'lZ,808. o 1 fe red to a o andparts which are similar to those oi the.

patented machine; have therefiore been given thenum'era'ls .which are applied to them in the patent. Y

. Refe 13 ring first; to, Fig, l, the feeling. or

detecting mechanism comprises; a feed; roll 8 and; a fe'eler roll 9, betwe'en which the blank passes, -tlie feeler roll. being yieldable While the axis of the roll; 8 is stationary. 'Conse-v quently, when a blank is fed between these rolls, the feeler, .roll 9gfirst moves dovvn a dis-- tance corresponding to the thickness of the forward: edge ofthe' blank, and then ,moves up and .down as it encounters thinneror thickerlocalitiesinthe blank. An arm 21, fast to a rock-shaft 23, is moved downward;

1y at all times When it "is freehso to move by a a spring 39 against a movable stop, not

shown, the positionof; Which isdetermined l by the. position at ,any time of thefeeler roll- 9. East to the rockshaft 23is anarm 136.

In front of the rolls 8 and 9'is a pivoted gate 129, fast to a small rock shaft 300, the gate being normally held raised, as shown, by a link 325 the top of which engages the under side of a crank 128, said crank being also fast to the rock shaft 300. The arm 136 has fast to its upper end'a pin 137 which, when the arm is rocked to the left by the down ward movement of the roll 9 due to the entrance of a blank between therolls 8 and 9, moves the link 325 from beneath the crank I 128 and permits the gate to fall until it rides upon the upper surface of the blank. The arm 21 has at its left-hand end a rack 43 and is connected by a spring 249 with a saddle piece 46 which is fast to a rock shaft 45. Between the arms of the saddle piece 46 there is loose on the shaft a sector 44 which meshes with the rack 43,'the construction being such that the right-hand under side of the sector 44 may contact with the saddle piece to rock the shaft 45 in a clockwise direction. Downward swinging movement of the lever 21 thus causes rocking ofthe shaft 45 in a clockwise direction through-the sector 44 and the saddle piece 46, while upward swinging movement of the lever causes rocking of the shaft 45 in a counter-clockwise direction through the. spring 249. Fast to the rock shaft 45 at the end remote from the observer is a segmental gear 48, which meshes with a longitudinally slidable rack bar 49 so that any rocking movement of the shaft 45 moves the rack bar 49 in one direction or the other. This rack bar, in the patented machine, is connected unyieldingly through gearing to a plate having on it stops in the form of wedges 67, the positions of which determine the extent to which the gageroll 7 O of the splitting mechanism may rise above the edge of the knife. This splitting mechanism, except for the automatic control which has been outlined above, is

similar to that of an ordinary splitting machine and comprises a gage roll a knife and a feed roll 74 held up by heavy.

springs. The wedges 68 on the bearings of the gage roll 70 and the co-operating wedges 67 on the sliding plate 55 are shown in Fig. 3.

Also fast to the rock shaft 45 is a ratchet wheel 'on one-half of the periphery of which are formed ratchet teeth 139 pointing in one direction and on the other half ratchet teeth 134pointing in the other direction. A pawl 131, pivoted to the frame of the machine and arrange-d at'the proper time to coact with the teeth 139, is normally .held out of engagement with these teeth .by being pivoted to the lower end of a link 130, the upper end ofwhich is pivoted to the gate 129. Consequently,as long as the gate is held up either as shown by'the arm 325 or riding upon the upper surface of a blank which has been presented to the machine, the pawl 131 is inoperative It becomes operative as soon as raised. A pawl 140 is urged toward the teeth 134 at all times by a spring 142, but is normally held out of contact with these teeth by a rod 143 the lower end of which presses down the tail of the pawl. This rod 143 is pivoted to the left-hand end of an arm the right-hand end of which is fast to the near end of a rock'shaft 145. The remote end of I this shaft has fast to it a rod 146 upon which a shoe 148 is adjustably fastened by a set screw 147. e

In both the present machine and the patented machine'the finally adjusted position I of the rack bar 49 controls the settingof the wedges 67 of the splitting or grading mechanism and determines the thickness to which the blank will besplit; and beforeprocee'ding to describe the differences in the machines the operation of the mechanismby which the bar is adjusted will be briefly described. The.

machine is normally at rest in the position shown, with the gate 129 raisedand the rolls 8 and 9 close together. As the forward endof a blankis fed between the rolls, the feeler roll 9 is depressed thereby allowing the segmental rack 43 to be pulled down by the spring 39. This causes the sector 44 to en gage the saddle piece 46 and thereby to rotate the shaft 45 and with it the ratchet wheel 135 in a clockwise direction, thus moving the rack bar 49 to the right. rocking of the shaft 23 has released the gate 129 so that it ridesupon the upper surface of the blank but will be free to fall and thereby move the pawl 131' to operative position as;

soon as the rear end of the blank passes from beneath it. The blank is now moved for- 1 ward by the rolls 8 and 9. Until the forward end of the blank raises the shoe 148,-the shaft 45 is free to turn in e-itherdirection, and con sequently the rack bar moves back and forth in accordance with the thickness of the blank at the locality engaged by the rolls 8 and 9. As soon, however, as the forward end ofthe blank raises the shoe 148, the pawl 140 .is thrown intoengagement with the teeth 134 so as to prevent the ratchet wheel 135 from turning in a clockwise direction. This pre-. vents any further'movement of the bar 49 to the right, this being the direction in which it has been moved by the thicker localities of the blank encountered by the rolls 8 and 9. The shaft 45 is, however, still free to turn in a counter-clockwise direction to move the bar 49 to the left, thisbeing the direction in countered which is thinner thanthe thinnest- Meanwhile the.

preceding spot, moves the bar 49 to the glefil, this response: to successivelyr thinner spots continuing until the rear end of the blank passes from beneath the gate which thereupon falls and throws inthe pawl 131 to lock theshaft 45 from turningain a counter-clockwise direction. At this: stage the pawls 131 andr140hold the'bar 49 immovable for a time in itsfinally adjusted position. he 0 eration of the parts, as thus far describec, is the same as in the patented machineand referenceis made to the patent for a detailed description of the means for con, tinuously rotating the rolls, the means for connecting the arm-21 with the carrier of the roll 9andyall other means whichare not specifieally described in the present. specifie cation. i i V In the patented machine thebar 49 is con? 21)} nected by gearing to the wedges 67 so that,

whenever the'bar is adjusted, the wedges are adjusted, the construction being such that the bar and the wedges cannotbe moved inde pendently. As a result of this construction any blank fed to the machine should pass entirely through the splitting mechanism before the next one is fed to the machine. In that machine the gate 129. remains closed until the blank has been split and passes from between $1 the 'rolls70,74. At that time, and not until then, the-gate 129 is raised to permit the next blank to be presented to: the machine. In other Words, after aiblank has been presented, to the machine, it is impossibleto present a succeeding blank until the first blank has passed entirely through the splitting mechanism. This construction renders the patented machine slow in operation; and it is to the remedying of this defect that the present invention isdirected. l

In the present machine/therack bar 49 is not connecteddirectly with the wedges but is indirectly connected through two wedge-setting mechanismswhich arexoperated alternately to set the wedges, softhat, after the wedges have been set in accordance with the thickness of a. given blank, which is passing through the machine, a succeeding blank may be presented to the feeler rolls 8 and 9 be .1; fore the first blank has left the machine. m The wedges 67 and the sliding plate 55 of the present machine are similarto those of the patented machine except that the rack teeth are formed on therear ofthe plate instead 315:3 of on; the front. Meshing with these teeth is a pinion 301' mounted on the upper end of a rotatable shaft 302, the lower end ofwhich carries a second pinion 303, said latter pinion meshingwithteethon a rack-bar 305 having a forked forward end on the extremities of the arms of which are mounted rolls 307, 309. Located between the rack bar 49am the rack bar 305 are the wedge-setting mechanisms whichhave been referred-to above and are shown best 2. I It will noWbeunder:

stirs.

preparatory to being splitby the knife,lthe gate 129 is raised and another blank may be fed to the machine. v I

' Before proceeding to the description of the plurality of setting mechanisms, the operation of the gate 129 will be described. As a .endof the blank has raised the gage roll70 blank;enters between the rolls 70, 7 4, the roll 70* israised, and 18111} passes from between these rolls the roll 7 0 falls. Inthe patented}: machine, the gate 129 is raised when theroll- 70 falls, but in the present machine, thegate is raised when the roll israised. A rod 311 has a strapat its upper end which encircles the journal end of the roll 70so that the rod is moved up and down with the roll, the lower end. of the rod being adjustablyfastenedto a member 313 whichis pivoted at 315 toa lever 317. The member 313-is in effect merely an extension of the rod 311 and is provided merely to permit the efi'ective length of the rod tobe adjusted if desired. The lever 3.17 is pivotedat its rear end at 319to the frame of the machine andatits front end to an arm 321 which is urged at all times to the right by a spring 323. Located behind the arm 321, as viewed in Fig. 1, is the arm 325 which is pivoted to the frame of the'machine at 327 and:

extends above the level of the top of the arm 321. It is this arm 325 which is holding'the gate 129 raised or open in thefigure. This arm is urged at all times to the rightby a spring 329. As has been explained above, when a blank enters between the feeler rolls 8 and 9, the arm 136 is swung to the left. During the swinging the pin 137 causes both of the arms 321 and 325 to swing to theleft with the arm 136. The parts remain in this position while the blank is passing beneath the gate, it being understood that the gate is at this time held from falling merely by the fact that it is riding upon the blank. As soon 4 asthe blank passes from beneath the gate,the gaterfalls. p the'arm 128 is below the level of the upper end of the arm 325 but is above the level of the upper'end of the arm 321. Both arms have been swung from beneath the crankarm and are held in in that position by the pin 137 against the force OfzlihG springs 323, 329. The parts remain in this position until the rear end of the blankpasses from beneaththe rolls 8 and 9 whereupon the heavy springs (shown in the patented machine) which support the roll 9, raise that rolland also the lev'er21. This swings the arm 136 back to'th'e position shown and permits the spring 323 to swingthe arm At this time the under surface of the arm 321 raises the arm 128 and with it the 321 underneath the crank 128. The parts remain in this position until the forward end of the blank raises the roll 70. This raises the lever 317 about its pivot 319 and through gate 129 and permits the spring 329 to pull the arm 325 beneath the crank 128. \Vhen, thereafter, the blank passes from between the ,rolls 70, 74 and the roll 70 falls, the parts assume the position shown with the gate held raised by the arm 325. It should be noted that the gate is raised as soon as the roll 70 is raisedand that the purpose of the arm 325 is principally to ensure that the gate is held open. In practice a. second blank will be fed beneath the gate as soon as the first blank.

raises the roll 70 preparatory to being operated upon by the grading mechanism.

Referringnow more particularly to Fig.2,

the plurality "of setting mechanisms, which controls theposition of the wedges 67 in ac the shaft by a one-half revolution clutch i11- dicated as a whole at 335. This clutch will 1 not be described, since its construction per se 339 with which a pawl 341 co-operate s.

forms no part of the present invention, other than to say that it is controlled by a dog 337 in such manner that raising the dog and permitting it to fall causes the shaft 331 to make half .a revolution. The dog is vertically slidable in a suitable guideway in the frame of the machine and has near its upper end a notch This pawl is pivoted on a slide 343 and is urged toward the dog 337 .at all times by a spring 345. A pin 347 carried by the frame of the machine is arranged in the upward path of the tail. of the pawl. Assuming that the parts occupy the position shown in Fig. 1, which is the normal position, and that the slide 343 is raised, the pawl 341 will lift the dog 337 and thereby release the one-half'revolution clutch.

- As soon, however, as the clutch is released, the

pin 347 will trip the pawl and allow the dog 337 to fall so as to limit the movement of the shaft 331 to onehalf a revolution. The slide 343 is raised by the passage of a blank 40-0 beneath a roller 349 which is rotatably mounted in bearing bosses 351 carried by a yoke 353, the bearing bosses being vertically slidable in gudeways 355 formed in stationary parts of the machine. A lifting lever 357 has one end connected with the slide 343 by a pin and siot'eonnec-tion and the other end fulcrumed about a. fixed pivot pin 359,while a second pivot pin 361 connects the lever with.

" the yoke 353.

Consequently, as the blank is moved forward by the chain 154, as in the patented machine, and carried beneath the roller.

the blank has passed from beneath the roller 349, the pawl 341 will re -engage the notch,

as shown in Fig. 1, so as to be in-position to raise and release the dog when the next blank raises the roller 349. 7

Loose on the shaft 331 are two setting cams 363 and 563 which co-operaterrespectively with the rolls 307, 309 on the'fork of the rack bar305. ated parts have been shown in separated relation in order to promote clearness of illustration but, as will presently appear, some of these parts are integral with one another. Referring first to the cam 363, which has just been rotated through 180 degrees to push the rack bar 305 to the left and thereby to set the wedges 67 in accordance with the thinnest spot in a selected area of the blank 400, this cam has fast to the remote sidea collar 36'? provided with a notch 369 which,

ment with the notch 369. Fast to the near side of the cam 363 is a second collar 377 having teeth 37 9' which co-operate with a. detent 381 carried by a socketed member 383, which is pinned to the shaft 331 at 385. A coiled spring 387, fast at one end to the socketed member and at the other end to the collar 37 tends to turn the collar, and with it the setting cam 363 ina clockwise direction so as to hold the notch 369 in engagement with the pawl 371 while the rack bar 49 is being moved to the left in response to successivelythinner spots in the blank. A trip member 389, fast to a stationary part of the machine, islocated in the path of rotation of the detent 381 and is adapted to engage the tail of the detent and thereby disengage it from 'the'teeth 379 when the shaft 331 shall have been given another half revolution.

\Vhen the blank 400'was presented to the feeler rolls 8 and 9, the cam 363 was in the These cams and their associmoved forward, the rackbar49lrnoved to the right or: the left according to 'thecthiekness of the blank .at the-pointsenga'gedby the rolls 8 and 9," and thecam 363 'sw'ung 'correspondingly until '1 the" forward" end of ,the blank lifted the shoe l48"and released the pawl 140, after which no further movement to the rightofthe rack .bar 49'was permitted.-

That is, there was no longer any response the rack' bar 49 .to' successively thicker spots encountered -"by'tl1e rolls 8, and .9; Assoc-v cessively thinner spots were encountered, the rack barmoved to theleft Such-movements moved the sector 373. in aclock'w'ise direction;

units the rack bar 49 to be moved to the left and the coiled spring 387' caused the cam 363 to move with thesector; Such movements of the rack bar'49 in response to "successively thinner spots in the blank continueduntil Jthe reariendfof the blankpa'ssedfrom'beneath "the gate andthe pawl 131 was thrown in.

Atthis'timetheangularr position of the foam 363 corresponded to the position ofthe rack bar 49 consequently to the thickness of the thinnest "spot encountered by the rolls 8 and 9 in a selected localityro fthe' blank, It

should be noted, that the thickeris-j this thinnest spot,'the fartherthesetting cam will have been eventually turned in a counter clockwise direction from its normal position, and the thinner the spot thelessit wi'l l have been turned. As the' blank. 400' passed" be neathand lifted the .ro11349, the shaft 331 was turned'half a revolutionin the direction indicated by the arrow. At the moment when the half revolution ofthe shaft 331 was started, the tail of the 'detent 381 moved past the member 389'and its operative end engaged theteeth j379sotha'tthe cam363 wasfturned into the, position shown, the turning of the canigservingby engagement with 'thero1l 307 to push the rack bar305 to'the left andlto rotate the pinion 303, thesh aft 302, and'ithe pinion 301 thereby inovingthe'plate 5'5 with its wedges 67a distance: transversely ofthe mach-inedependentupon hthe position in whichthe cam'363 was set andtherefore'upon I the thickness of the thinnest spot in the stock which wassencountered by :the-rolls [8' and Lduring thevfeeling operation I In the patented machine the wedges 6Zia're in contact, the pinion 301': being locatedfat the rear o'fthe plate -instead"1of'in front 5 O'f'ltfElS inthepatentedmarihine:

V The setting cam'563and'its associatd parts *aresimilar "to the mm 363 and its associated o characteristioof the blankandis not limited parts; and no detailed description ofithe cam 563 will be given. I This'cam an d its as'sooi- *blank 'is being maintained als like those of the earn 363: but increased 7 The operation of the machine from the time the blank 400 was presented to the rolls 8' and 9 until itireaches the position shown in Fig. 2 has been described. As thisblank continues-itsforward movement the forward into posi-tionshown in'Fig. 1. This-causes sition shown in 1 withthe pawl 571in engagement with the notch-569 of the collar 567 which is fast to the setting cam 563. Ac-

through the feeler rolls 8and9, adjusts the controller 49 and inoves the ca-m 563 in the same manner that the blank 400 adjusted the controller and moved the cam 363. When this secondblank raises the roll349, ahalf revolution is imparted to th'eshaft- 331 again. This half revolution not onlymovesthe cam 563 to set thewedges anew for the second blankj, but retu'rnsythe cam363 to norlnalposition' ready to be moved by the-thirdYbl'ank when it shall'have been presented to the machine.

7 Referring now to the cm 363, the halfrevo- "lution' of the shaft 331'. just referred to, j ust "at'its completion; causes the tai-lofthe detent 381"ito 'str1'ke themembe'r389L, This releases the-cam 363 until the proj ect ion 391 engages In the operation of the maehine,then,each

"succeeding blank may be fed to "the feeler rolls-as soon 'asthe preoeding blank-haslifted the gageroll prioritobeing s' lit by the the sector 373 to bezswung back into the 'pocordingly the second blank, as it passes the 'detent, whereupon the spring 387 turns knife- 7'5"an'dmay actuatethea justing 0r setting; mechanism while the adj ustment of the: splitting mechanism for the preceding The patented mach'ne is fitted with a marking 'rnechanismzin' addition to splittinggmechanism, but thisim'arking mechanisinhas been omitted fromthe present machine because it is merely another form grading mechanism and its inclusion would complicate the drawings; Theterm grading mechanism. as usedthroughoutthe clai'msfis intended to refer to any mechanism which "acts upon orwithrelferenceIto a fblank'so' as to perpetuate or to facilitate the perpetua- "131011 ofi-th'e determined degreezofy a selected tothparticrilar gradingnimechanism which liasbeen illustrated; "It should also [be 1111- V 'derstood" that, although two setting. mechanisms have been shown in the illustrative vmachine, the invention is not limited to any particular number.

The term main grading means which appears below refers to a grading means, such for example as a splitting mechanism which changes the thickness or some char acteristic of the blanks by'operating upon be caused to operate the adjusting mechanism during the time that the preceding blank is engaged by the splitting mechanism. V I V i I 2. A machine for treating aseries of blanks some of which are heterogeneous as to the degree of a selected characteristic possessed by them, having in combination, mechanism for grading the blanks adapted to beset. in different positions so as to grade differently those blanks having different degrees of. the

selected characteristic, a plurality of adjust ablemechanisms for setting the grading mechanism in accordance with the degree of the characteristic posssessed by each blank, and means whereby a succeeding blankmay be fed to the machine to adjust one setting mechanism while the grading mechanism is in the position in which it was set by another setting mechanism.

3. A machine for treating a series of blanks some of which are heterogeneous as to the degree of a selected characteristic possessed by them, having in combination, mechanism: for grading the blanks adapted to be set in dif: 'ferent positions so as to grade differently those blanks having different degrees of the selected characteristic, means for feeding the blanks thereto to be graded, a plurality of setting mechanisms adjustable by the blanks as they are fed along, and means whereby one of the settlng mechanisms may be held in the position to which it was adjusted by oneblank while another is being adjusted by another blank. 7

, 4. A machine for treating a series of'blanks some of whlch are heterogeneous as to the degree of selected characteristic possessed by them, having in combination, mechanism for grading the blanks'adapted to be set in different posltions so as tograde differently those blanks havlngdllferent degrees of the selected I characteristic, means for feeding the blanks thereto to be graded, a plurality of settingmechanisms adjustable by the blanks as they arefedalong, and means whereby one of the setting mechanisms may be held in the while another is being adjusted by a succeeding blank. c,

5. A machine of the class described having in combination gradingmechanism adapted 5 0 positlon to which twas ad ustedby one blank 7 to be set and held set in different positions to treat one after another a series of blanks possessing a given characteristic in different degrees, a plurality of mechanisms for setting the grading mechanism, and meansfor causing the setting mechanismsto operate seriatim irrespective of the degrees of the given characteristic, possessed severally by the blanks. i 5 1 V 6. A machine for treating a series of blanks which are heterogeneous as to the degree of i a selected characteristic possessed-by them, having 1n combination, grading mech'anlsm adapted to be set in different positions so as to operateidifferently upon blanks which vary in degree of a:selected-characteristic, a plurality of mechanisms for setting the grading mechanism, and means for causing one or another of thesetting mechanisms to operate once for each blank fed to the machine.

7. A machine of the class described having in combination gradingmechanism capable of being setand held set in different positions to treat blanks possessing a given characteristic in different degrees, the position in each case/corresponding to the degree, a plurality ofiadjustable mechanisms for setting the grading mechanism, and means whereby a succeeding blank maybe fed to the machine to adjustgone of the adjustable mechanisms while the grading mechanism remains in the positionto which itwas set by another adjustable mechanism,

8. Amachine ofthe classdescribed, having in combination, mechanism for grading blanks adapted to be set in various positions so as to grade differently blanks which have different degrees of a selected characteristic,

aplurality of mechanisms for setting the grading mechanism, and means for rendering 3 the setting mechanisms'operative one at a I time.

9. A machine of the class described,jhaving in combination, mechanlsm for grading 'blanks,a plurality of mechanisms for setting the grading mechanism in such manner as to cause it to operate differently upon dliferent blanks, mechanism responsive to the degrees *of a selected characteristic of the blanks to be graded for adjusting the setting mechanisms, and means for causing the setting mechanismsto operate, successively to setthe grading mechanism.

' .10. A machine ofthe classdescribed having 7 in combination grading mechanism adapted .a grading mechanism.

to: treat one after another an entire series of blanks posses'smg a glven characteristic in different degrees each in a manner determined 7 by the degree of the given characteristic possessed by the blank, a plurality of mechanisms for setting the grading mechanism once for .inaccordance with the degree'of a selected characteristic, a plurality of mechanisms for setting the grading mechanism in said positions, feeler mechanism for controlling the .operation ofthe setting mechanisms, and

means for compelling the settingmechanisms to operate successively to, set thev grading mechanism. p 1 x 12. A machine of the class described, having din combination, feeler mechanism constructed and arranged to detect a thin sp'ot in each of a series of blanks, mechanism for grading the blanks, and a plurality of setting mechanisms responsive to the operation of the feelervmechanism for successively setting the 13. A machineof the class described, having in combination,- feeler mechanism, grading mechanism, and a pluralityot setting mechanisms responsive to theoperation of the feeler mechanism upon different blanks for successively settingthe grading mechanism in accordance with the thicknesses of the thinnest spots of the blanks detected by the feeler mechanism.

14. A machine of the class described, has ing in combination, feeler mechanismvconstructed and arranged to detect thin'spots in each of a series of blanks, grading mechanism adapted to be set in accordance with the determinations of the feeler mechanism, a plurality-of setting n1eclian1sms ,,,andmeans for rendering the setting mechanisms successive- 1y responsive to the operation of the feeler mechanism.

15. A machineof the class described'havi ing in combination feelermechamsm for detectin the de ree of a selected characteristic ofgeach'of a series of blanks, .grading'mechanism adapted to be set in accordance. With the determinations of the feeler mechanism,

means for operating the grading mechanism once for each blank fed throughthe machine,

a plurality of mechanisms for setting the gradin g mechanism, and means forrendering time to the feeler mechanism.

16. A machine of the class described having V tion to be adjusted by the operation of the feelermechanism upona blank, and means of setting mechanisms located between the ,feeler mechanism and the grading, mechanism.

N 17 A machine of theclass described' having in combination feeler mechanism con- ..structed and arranged to detect the smallest'itm extent ofa selected dimension'of each of a cries of blanks, mechanism adapted to be set in different positions for grading the-blanks,

and means for setting thegrading mechanism in accordance with the detect ons of the feelerrn mechanism, sa1d means comprising a plu- ,rality of: setting members and means for rendering them successively operative. i

- 18. Ama chine of the class described, havin combination, feeler mechanism, grad-"ago ing mechanism and means for'setting the gradingvmechanismiin accordance With-the operation of the feelermechanismmaid means comprising a plurality of setting members, ,and means for moving them successively-too extents dependent upon the extent of acharacteristic of the successive blanksengaged by the feeler mechanism.

.19 A machine for treating; a seriesof blanks some of which are heterogeneous as-to ibo the degree ota selected characteristic possessed by them, having in combination, mech anism for grading the blanks adapted to be,

1 set in diflerent positions so asto, grade difi'erently those blanks having different degrees 0ft the selected characteristic, feeler mechanism,

and means for setting the grading mechanism in accordance With the detections of the feell 7 feclermechanism.

20. A machine of theclass described,"havi to ing in conibinatiomfeeler mechanism, mech- 1 rfZlIllSHl for grading blanks adapted to be set in difierent positions to grade differently 1110 blanks havingdiflcrent degrees of a selected characteristic, a plurality of mechanisms for setting the grading mechanism, said setting mechanisms being successivelyadjusted by the engagement of the feeler mechanism with 'successi'vebl'anks, and means for operating one setting mechanism to setlthe grading mech'anism for each blank-present d toxthe C ine H o a I vi 211' machine of the class described, hav 1-20 iii-combination, feeler mechanism, grad: the setting mechanisms responsive one at a p i for moving the first-named member'intopositicn to release the gradingmechanism and "to be adjusted by asucceeding blank and for sition to set the grading mechanism in accordance with a characteristic of the first 'for blank. 7

22. A machine of the class described, having in combination, grading mechanism, a plurality of cams, connections between each cain and the gradii'ig mechanism and means responsive to the passage of successive blanks through the machine for adjusting the cams angularly in succession.

23. A'machine of the class described, having in combination, grading'mechanism, a plurality of angularly adjustable cams, con nections between each cam and the grading mechanism and means responsive to the passage of successiveblanks through the machine for adjusting the cams one at a time.

Qet. A machine of the class described, hav-' ing in combination, feeler mechanism, grading mechanism, a plurality of mechanisms setting the grading mechanism, a controlling member for the setting mechanisms adjustable by the operation of the feeler mechanism upon" a blank into various different positions according to the different degrees of a selected characteristic possessed by the difierent blanks, and means for causing one ofthe setting mechanisms and then an,- otherto set the grading mechanism in accordance with the adjusted position of the controlling member as different blanks are presented to the machine.

25. A machine of the class described, hav ing in combination, feeler mechanism, grading mechanism, a plurality of cams for setting the grading mechanism adapted to be adjusted one at a time by the operationof the feeler mechanism, andmeans for imparting to an adjusted cam that fractional part of a revolution which is equal to one divided by the number of cams.

26, A machine of the class described, having in combination, feeler mechanism, grading mechamsm, a plurality of cams for setting the grading mechanism adapted to be adjusted successively by the operation of the feeler mechanism, a shaft upon which the cams are mounted, and means forimparting to the shaft that fractional part, of a revolution which is equal to one divided by the number of cams. 7

27. A machine of the class described, having in combination, feeler mechanism, mechanism for grading blanks adapted to be set in differently adjusted positions so as to grade in various difierentways blanks which te-rmittently.

vary in the extent ofa selected dimension, a

plurality. of cams for, setting the grading mechanism adapted to be adjusted successively by the operation of the feeler mechanism, and means for rotating the cams in- 28. A machine ofrthe class described, havmg 111 combination, feeler mechanism, mech- A anism for grading blanks adapted to be set in 29. A machine of the class described, having in combination, feeler mechanism, grading mechanism, a plurality of cams for setting the grading mechanism adapted to be adjusted successively by the operation of the feeler mechanism, a shaft upon which the cams are loosely mounted, yielding means for connecting the cams with the shaft, means whereby engagement of a blank by the feeler mechanism, adjusts one of the cams angularly, means for thereafter connecting the cam positively with the shaft, means for imparting movement of revolution to the shaft, and means operated by the turning of the cam for setting the grading mechanisms.

- 30. A machine of the class described, having in combination, feeler mechanism, mechanism for grading blanks adapted to be set in differently adjusted positions so as to grade in various different ways blanks whichvary in the extent of a selected dimension, a plurality of cams for setting the grading mechanism adapted to be adjusted successively by the operation of the feeler mechanism, and

means for rotating each cam after its adjustment through a fixed arc to set the grading mechanism in accordance with said adjustment.

31. A machine'of the class described, having in combination, a controlling member, means for adjusting the controlling member to a position corresponding to the thickness of the thinnest spot in a selected locality of a blank, grading mechanism, a plurality of setting mechanisms the members of which are'successively adjusted bythe controlling member, and means for successively operating the setting mechanisms to set the grading mechanism.

7 32. A machine of the class described having, in combination, mechanism for operating upon a series of blanks, which are heterogeneous as to a selected characteristic, in

such manner as to change that characteristic,

and mechanism for adjusting the operating mechanism differently in accordance with the different degrees of the selected characteristic possessed by the blanks, said mechanisms constructed and arranged to maintain the adjustment of the operating mechanism while at the same time permitting'the adjusting mechanism to respond to a characteristic'of a succeeding blank.

38. A machine of the class described, having in combination, mechanism for operating to make itresponsive to a succeeding blank after the operating mechanism has been adjusted by a preceding blankand before the operation upon the preceding blank has been completed.

341A machine of the class described,.having in combination, mechanism for operating upon blanks in such manner as to change the degree of a selected characteristic of the blanks, said mechanism being ad ustable in accordance with the original degree of the characteristic of a given blank, an adjustable controller for governing the adjustment,

' means for locking the controller in adjusted position, and means for freeing the controller to make it responsive to a succeeding blank after the operating mechanism has been adjusted by a preceding blank and before the operation upon the preceding blank has been completed. 1

35. A machine ofthe' class described, having in combination, splitting mechanism, a plurality-of adjustable mechanisms for setting the splitting mechanism in accordance with the thickness of successive blanks fed to the machine, and means for causing the setting mechanisms to operate in succession.

36. A machine of the class described, having in combination, splitting mechanism, a plurality of adjustable mechanisms for setting the splitting mechanism in accordance with the thickness of the thinnest spots in selected portions of successive blanks fed to the machine, and means for causing the setting mechanisms to operate in succession.

37. A machine of the class described, having in combination, feeler mechanism, splitting mechanism, and means for setting the splitting mechanism in accordance with the thickness of blanks fed successively to the machine, said means comprising a plurality of setting members, and means for rendering them successively operative.

38. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a single splitting mechanism, a plurality of setting mechanisms, and means for causing the setting mechanisms to operate in succession to set the splitting mechanism.

39. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a single splitting mechanism, a plurality of setting mechanisms adapted to set the splitting mechanism in accordance with the thickness of successive blanks fed to the machine, and means for causing the setting mechanisms to operate in succession.

ting mechanismjset in accordance withthef positionofthe' adjusting mechanism, "and means whereby "a succeeding blank may be causing'the operation of, the adjusting mechanism duri'ngrthe time that the splittingmecha nism remains set-inpositio'n to operate upon' aprecedingbla-nk.

1. 7 A machiheof the class described hav -j ing, in 5 combination,- splitting mechanism, m'eclianism for a'djusting the splitting mech-" anism in 'accorfdance with the degree of a se-F lec'tejd characteristic of a blank *fed tothe: machine, and ,means whereby a; succeeding;

blank may be causedto operate, the fadj sting mechanism before the splitting of the pre ceding blank hasbeen completed. 1 f

' 42; Agmachine' of the 'cilassdescrib ed hav' ing in combination feeler mechanism, grad-f;

ing mechanism responsive to the 'determin'a'-@ tions of't he feeler mechanism? said grading mechanism including a'roll" adapted tobe ejn gaged and move'dby a' blank as it passes through thej'in'a'chi'nej, fa" ga'tefin'v front of the 1 feeler mechanism which controlslthe presentation of'blanks tothe feeler mechanism,and connections between the roll and the gate such that engagemenhof therollj bythe"blanl t' causes-thegate-to belopened. 1 P j 43." A machine 'of the class ,describedhav-f ing in combination ffee-ler mechanisjm,grad ing meclianism'responsiveto the determinations. of thefeeler mechanism, ljs'aid gradingf mechanism including afga ge roll adapted to be lifted by a blank passing through thema chine, a gate located in front of the feeler mechanism, and means foropening the gate when the gage roll is lifted.

44. A machine of the class described having in combination feeler mechanism, grading mechanism including a pair of feed rolls and a splitting knife,.one of said rolls being a gage roll adapted to be raised by the passing of a blank beneath it, a plurality" of inclines adjustable into different positions to limit the extent of movement of the gage roll and hence to determine the thickness to which ablank will be split, a controller, means for moving the controller into a position corresponding to the thickness of the thinnest spot in a blankas detectedby the feeler mech- 11f anism, andmeans operating thereafter to move the inclines into a position determined 7 by that of the controller. 7 r

- 45(A machine of the class'described having, in combination, splitting mechanism including a knife, a pair of rolls and a stop for one of the rolls the position of which stop determines the extent to which said roll may be moved away from the other roll,'an ad- 7 'justable controller for the stop adapted to i be adjusted'andjlocked in adjusted position bythe passage of a blank through the machine, and means for freeing the controller and making it responsive to a succeeding blank after the stop has'been adjusted through the controller by the preceding blank and before the splitting ofthe pre ceding blank has been completed.

.. 46. In a machine of the kind described in combination, means for detecting the grade of successive blanks according to their thickness, governing means to control the admission of blanks to saiddetecting means, grad ing mechanism, including a splitting knife, to grade the detected blanks inaccordance With said detecting means, and actuating means to actuate said governing means to admit to said detecting means a succeeding blankbefore alpreceding blank has reached said splitting knife.

l7. In a machine of the kind described, in combination, detecting means for measuring a blank, means of the kind herein defined as main grading means for subsequently grading the blank in accordance with said measurement, means for advancing the blank after being measured, automatic means responsive to said detecting means and operative on the advance of the blank through the machine after having been measured, forladjusting said grading means in accordance With said measurement, and a positive lock for thereafter lockingthe grading means inits adjusted position Whether or not a blank is then being graded thereby. r In testimony WhereofI have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM C. STEWART. 

